chestnut oak
Quercus montana

Chestnut oak is common in the Appalachian mountains and nearby regions, often found growing on dry, rocky, infertile slopes and ridges. The lumber of chestnut oak is sold and used as white oak. Acorns are eaten by a variety of wildlife species.

Light
Chestnut oak's intermediate shade tolerance and slow growth rate allow for regeneration by shelterwood and group selection methods. It competes best on sites of intermediate to poor quality.

Water Chestnut oak is most often found on dry, rocky upland sites, but may also be found in coves.

Growth

Size
A medium sized tree to 80 feet tall that on better sites will develop a straight trunk and narrow crown; on drier ridge tops it is much smaller with a crooked stem.

Fun Facts
Acorns are edible (after soaking), and provide food for many species of wildlife. The wood resembles the wood of Q. alba, and is used the same. Chestnut oak gets its common name from the wavy margin of its leaves... in bygone times people with poor eyesight or rudimentary glasses likened the leaves to those of American chestnut.